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Putting ‘happy’ back in the holidays

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Even with chestnuts roasting on an open fire and Jack Frost nipping at your nose, Five Counties Children’s Centre says stress and upheaval can make the holidays far from happy for some families.

They’re offering a simple phrase to kids and parents: celebrating the season can still be merry and bright when it’s managed right.

“Parents and caregivers often feel guilty and pressured to have the picture-perfect holiday that they see on social media or in the movies, but that isn’t always the reality,” says Nicole Captain, an occupational therapist with Five Counties. “The fact is we can still enjoy happy holidays if we keep things simple, stick to structure, go back to basics, and are flexible.”

Caregiver burnout and stress associated with parenting is real, according to the U.S. Office of the Surgeon General. It released a ‘Parents Under Pressure advisory report’ last summer that looked at the mental health and well-being of parents. In the report, two-fifths of U.S. parents indicated feeling “so stressed they cannot function.” Roughly half of parents called their stress “completely overwhelming.”

While numbers aren’t readily available in Canada, Captain says similar pressures on parents and caregivers aren’t limited by borders, and stress can be magnified over the holidays.

Captain, who works in school-based rehabilitation services at Five Counties, provides occupational therapy support to students and often discusses self-regulation with classes. It’s these tips that she feels families can benefit from during the holiday season.

“I always tell parents to put on your oxygen mask first to meet your own regulation needs and support your nervous system, so that you can support your child’s needs,” Captain said.

To help make the holidays more manageable, Five Counties offers the following tips:

Practice makes progress

• The holidays come with excitement, anticipation, and altered routines. Captain suggests caregivers help children cope with change by helping them prepare for what’s ahead.

• A visual schedule (or calendar) is ideal to help a child see what is being planned. It can set out what’s going on a certain day or week before, or during, the holidays – helping children understand what to expect. Including breaks or downtime in the schedule can benefit the entire family to self-regulate and recharge.

• If travelling to see family or friends for the holidays, photos or maps can be useful tools to help prepare kids for where and with whom they may visit.

• Discussing holiday plans as a family can also help manage change and expectations. It can also be a chance to build buy-in by selecting activities that everyone would like to do together.

Back to basics

It’s important to control the variables that you can. This means:

• Getting enough rest and sticking to sleep schedules, and even selecting a quiet space where family members can rejuvenate.

• Eating well and staying well-hydrated.

“It’s really going back to the basics,” Captain says. “We’re optimizing our bodies on the inside to cope with all the stress and changes that go on outside and around us.”

Unplug

While technology is part of everyday life, too much time in front of a screen can impact a child’s sleep, behaviour, routine and anxiety levels. According to Captain, part of what makes a happy holiday is unplugging from devices and making meaningful connections as a family. That means spending time together as a family and, as parents and caregivers, being fully involved, present and engaged with kids.

“While being together doesn’t require a lot of preparation, make it quality time to really forge that connection,” Captain adds.

If spending time in front of a screen, do so as a family, but be mindful to avoid devices too close to bedtime, as it can overstimulate a child and affect their sleep.

Tap the power of play

While the holidays can be hectic, they do provide an opportunity to have fun outdoors by being active together. For Captain, the power of play is one of the best ways to refresh and make the season more festive and fun. “I know going outdoors in the winter months in Canada isn’t something we all like to do, but the importance of sunlight, fresh air, and activity are important for everyone to feel their best,” she notes.

• Families can be purposeful and organized in choosing outdoor activities to do together. “There’s time to run around in the snow, but planning a scavenger hunt, designing a snow fort, building a snowman, or trying to see how many animals you can spot in 10 minutes can maximize that outdoor experience,” she says.

• If the weather outside is frightful, the power of play can also be applied indoors – whether creating an obstacle course, doing a puzzle, or trying out a fun, interactive activity like Cosmic Kids Yoga.

As the holidays approach, Captain says how families approach the festive season can make it magical and memorable for all the right reasons. “Pick what works for your family,” she says, “and do what you can – and happy holidays can be within our reach.”

For more resources, visit the Five Counties website at: fivecounties.on.ca/happy-holidaytips/.

Province must step up

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The old saying goes that good things come to those who wait. 

Thousands of County residents without a family doctor hope that rings true after news broke this week that the Highlands will welcome two new primary care physicians in early 2025. 

Dr. Mimi Van Der Leden will join Dr. Lesslie Ponraja at the Kinmount and District Health Centre (KDHC) full-time in February, while Dr. Sharysse Kayoumedjian is taking on a part-time role with the Haliburton Family Medical Centre, arriving in March. 

It’s the best bit of news many will have heard all year. At the Haliburton practice, this will be the first new addition in more than three years, according to Dr. Norm Bottum. He said Kayoumedjian will be partially taking over Dr. Christina Stephenson’s practice following her July 2023 retirement. 

In Kinmount, this will be the first time in several years the clinic has boasted two permanent, full-time, non-retiring physicians. Susan Forrester, a KDHC volunteer, said the clinic connected with Van Der Leden over the summer after generating the lead via British Columbia-based recruitment firm Physicians for You. She said KDHC has been working with the organization for several years, also helping to recruit Ponraja, 

The clinic uses community donations to pay for the service – though it’s contractually obligated not to reveal the sums paid, we suggest its money well spent considering the return.

It begs the question, though – why does physician recruitment, and more pointedly the costs involved, fall almost exclusively on communities? As Bottum puts it in today’s front-page story, it’s due to decades of underfunding by the provincial government. 

Eyes will have rolled earlier this month when the province seemed to take credit for what it believes to be a solution, announcing the first batch of internationally-trained physicians arriving via the new Practice Ready Ontario program. Essentially, it provides a pathway for qualified doctors to fast-track applications to move to, and begin practising in, Ontario.

It’s a good initiative – those who qualify are required to complete a three-year return of service as a family physician in a rural or northern community. Twenty-one communities have benefitted so far, including in the far north, Sudbury, Gore Bay, and Cochrane. 

Where it falls down is communities, still, are effectively left in a bidding war trying to lure a doctor. I’ve heard of places offering to buy doctors’ houses or cars if they commit to relocating, while others simply cut a cheque – usually in the five or six figures. 

That means communities such as Kinmount and Haliburton County often become afterthoughts. The two local practices deserve tremendous praise for being able to beat out literally hundreds of other communities in welcoming Van Der Leden and Kayoumedjian. 

Bottum suggests the problem won’t get any better until the province ramps up its commitment to train and graduate more doctors in Ontario. A recently announced $88 million Learn and Stay program will provide grants for 1,360 eligible Canadian undergraduates who commit to practising family medicine with a full roster of patients upon graduation. 

It’s estimated the investment will connect an additional 1.36 million people to primary care by 2028. Important, considering the Ontario Medical Association says 2.3 million people in Ontario don’t have a family doctor. That number is expected to double over the next two years. 

With Bottum saying the Haliburton practice could do with another three or four physicians, and KDHC actively recruiting for a third doctor, here’s hoping there’s even more good news come the new year. 

Government commits $10M to health merger

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The Haliburton, Kawartha, Pine Ridge district health unit (HKPR) is moving ahead with a voluntary merger with Peterborough Public Health effective Jan. 1, 2025, with the Ontario government committing $10.1 million to support the partnership.

HKPR board members voted 5-2 in favour of the merger Dec. 6. Highlands East deputy mayor Cec Ryall, the County representative on the HKPR board, feels the move was inevitable given the health unit’s precarious financial situation.

“We were in a position where we had to make a choice between a rock and a hard place… I’m truly concerned there wouldn’t have been enough resources to keep HKPR functioning as it should. Where would we be in 2025, 2026, or 2027? If you think we can live on a one per cent increase, with the cost of living as it is right now, it’s just not feasible. It can’t be done… without service reductions or massive increases to municipalities.”

During 2025 budget deliberations last month, Dr. Natalie Bocking, HKPR medical officer of health, said the health unit is projecting to finish the 2024/25 fiscal year with a $188,476 shortfall. She said funding increases from the Ministry of Health, capped at one per cent for the next three years, aren’t enough to maintain current service levels.

When pushed by Ryall on how the health unit would navigate such minor funding improvements in the face of increased cost of living and new contracts for unionized staff, Bocking admitted it would be problematic.

“It means our total budget will stagnate… our headcount will slowly go down. It will impact our ability to provide the same level of programs and services,” she said.

The health unit has culled six full-time positions over the past three years due to budget issues. Bocking earned $327,346 in 2023.

Bocking said the province has committed $10,129,450 to HKPR and PPH to cover all merger-related expenses during the 2025/26 fiscal year. Money can also be used for capital improvements and program stabilization. She said that will help cover pressures in areas such as nutrition, student/school health, and the vaccine and preventable diseases program.

Bocking recommended joining with PPH, as she did in February when the HKPR board initially supported the merger.

“My opinion is rooted in what I believe will provide the best level of public health capacity to our residents,” Bocking said.

Ryall voted alongside Dan Joyce, Bob Crate, John Logel and Olena Hankivsky in approving the merger, with Tracy Richardson – Kawartha Lakes’ deputy mayor – and David Marshall against, saying there’s “too much uncertainty.”

HKPR communications lead, Ashley Beaulac, said a new organizational structure and leadership team for the merged units will be announced in the new year. Both Bocking and Dr. Thomas Piggot, PPH medical officer of health (who made $302,532 in 2023), indicated a willingness to work within the new structure when the merger was proposed in February. Both units will remain functional, with no immediate impact on programs and services, Beaulac said.

A combined 2025 budget will be prepared once the new board meets.

What does it all mean?

Ryall said most people won’t notice much of a difference once the merger is finalized in the new year.

“It’s being done more so for the infrastructure and to have more resources to perform what we’re already doing now. There’s going to be a lot of people thinking this is not a good idea… but our public health units are in trouble,” Ryall said.

He said a new name and brand will be unveiled early in the new year, while he also expects the new unit will establish its headquarters closer to Haliburton County. The HKPR head office is in Port Hope, with satellite offices in Lindsay and Haliburton.

Public health units deliver a wide range of services to the public including immunization clinics, early childhood programs, sexual health clinics, water quality testing, and food and nutrition training, while offering support in mental health, harm reduction, pregnancy and parenting.

A conjoined board of HKPR and PPH will include nine municipal representatives – one from the County, two from Northumberland, two from Kawartha Lakes, two from Peterborough County, and two from the City of Peterborough. There will also be one sitting member from Curve Lake First Nation and Hiawatha First Nation.

He admitted “it’s a bit of an unknown” working with new faces from PPH, but Ryall is clinging to hope that this merger will be a positive for all involved.

“At the very least, we hope this will stop service reductions and staffing issues… I’m very optimistic we’re going to come out of this as a better unit. I think the people of Haliburton County will be better off,” Ryall said. “People are going to have to be patient – the merger won’t happen instantaneously. How much will be visible in the first quarter? It’s hard to say. But I’m sure by the end of 2025, you’ll start to see the external changes. The big thing we have to do is get staff reorganized… so everyone is ready to hit the ground running.”

Summer ice continuing in Minden Hills

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Haliburton County Huskies representatives made their plea for maintaining summer ice at S.G. Nesbitt Memorial Arena during a Nov. 28 Minden Hills council meeting.

During 2024 budget deliberations, council directed staff to provide a review of summer ice usage for the 2023 and 2024 seasons. The township removes ice in mid-May to the end of June for annual maintenance of the ice plant, and ice is rebuilt at the beginning of July, slated to be available July 22, 2025.

Huskies’ owner Paul Wilson said his general manager and coach, Ryan Ramsay, runs a two-week hockey camp in summer for 110 mostly local players.

In addition, Wilson said the Huskies operate their rookie camp in May. “Ninety kids paying $375 each. We need that ice in May.”

Wilson added, “I know that some of you are not really hockey fans but many people in the community are thrilled that a small town like Minden is able to support a Junior A Hockey League team. Evidence of that? We sold 325 season tickets this year and every year we’ve sold that many. This year, we’ve received over $150,000 in sponsorships from the local community.” He added that paid “have been in the net positive revenue position.” Net revenue was $8,366 in 2023 and $12,642 in 2024. attendance is 400 to 500 per home game.

He said despite this, the club loses money and he has to chip in. But “removing $10,000 to $20,000 from our income source by eliminating summer ice for the rookie camp, I’ll probably have to sell the team.”

Owen Flood, an assistant coach with the Huskies, who owns APE training, said he moved his business to Minden to grow it.

“One thing slowing me down is the summer ice issue. I currently go to Haliburton to get summer ice, which, with only having one arena, is hard to get the ice time I require to do everything.”

Flood trains about 80 hockey players in the summer and said Dallas Stars forward, Matt Duchene, also uses the ice for summer training. He’d like to run and grow his programs in Minden. He estimated he spends about $10,000 on summer ice rentals in Haliburton.

Director of community services, Candace McGuigan, said when introducing new programs and services, such as summer ice rental programs, three to four years is required to build up the programming and understand the true costs, revenue streams and community and user group requirements. She noted summer ice in 2023 and 2024

McGuigan added, “in addition to the current summer ice users, the township is receiving new inquiries for summer 2025 and anticipates an increase in net ice revenue and further growth to ice rental programming. User groups are planning their 2025 and 2026 seasons, including their summer 2025 training and program locations. For these groups, it is important to have summer ice available at S.G. Nesbitt Memorial Arena.”

Councillors divided

Deputy mayor Lisa Schell said when they designed and built the arena, they wanted an NHL-sized rink and intended to have summer ice. Schell said they need to continue to give staff a chance to see if it works.

Coun. Bob Sisson said there were other expenditures besides electricity, such as staff, propane for the Zamboni, and other hidden costs. He said other township operations are suffering due to the amount of money being spent at the Minden recreation centre.

Director of finance, Wendelin Lonergan said she backed the staff’s report.

Coun. Tammy McKelvey said she was a Huskies supporter, and acknowledged the economic impact for Minden, but “we’re tasked with trying to come up with a balanced budget, and it’s costing us over $2 million to operate that facility. We can’t look at anything in isolation. This is not an antiHuskies thing. We’re dealing with a budget in which 19 per cent of our tax levy is going to that facility.”

Coun. Pam Sayne said, “it’s a little too late now to go back and say ‘we’re not going to do this anymore’. That building is not going to disappear. It’s a huge asset to us and we’ve got to take full advantage of this. And we have to find ways to bring this in to support the rest of the community.”

Mayor Bob Carter added, “if we are not losing money on this, this is something we should at least attempt to see if this is something worthwhile for us to be doing. We have to give it a shot.”

Council voted to maintain summer ice for 2025, and look to boost revenue.

Dysart wants to demolish Wig

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Dysart et al has applied for a special exemption through the Ministry of Environment, Conservation and Parks (MECP) to take over demolition of the Wigamog Inn property.

The township’s chief building official, Karl Korpela, said staff discussed the situation with MECP officials Nov. 25. Tear down of the main lodge structure and 36 accessory buildings began in April 2023, with property owners, Aurora Group, handling the project. Workers demolished about a dozen smaller out buildings before the ministry shut things down in June, following reports of at-risk species – endangered bats and the eastern hog-nosed snake, being found on-site.

The township engaged with MECP earlier this year, wanting to know if there was any way to speed up the project.

“There is an exemption we can apply for, for health and safety reasons. The main building, with the roof collapsing, it likely falls under that, but [MECP] is checking with their legal team to see if the municipality can apply for that exemption, being that it’s not the property owner,” Korpela said. “It’s a very unique case here.”

In October, council directed staff to investigate removing debris from already felled buildings – bylaw officer Hailey Cole said the township needs to conduct a waste audit of the property and send the report to MECP, then it can step in. She estimated the audit would cost about $10,000.

Regarding the main lodge and other remaining buildings, Cole said a monthslong species at-risk study paid for by Aurora Group was deemed inconclusive by the ministry. She said the township had two options – wait until next summer to conduct another study, or apply for an exemption to proceed with demolition for health and safety reasons.

Korpela recommended that exemption cover only the main lodge, to improve the township’s chances of approval.

“That’s the main issue – the building people are still trying to break into, that’s falling down. If we’re able to do that it might also speed the RFP (request for proposals from companies to do the work) along… then the Auroras could handle the rest [of the project] and demolish at their own pace,” Korpela said. “At least that would give us something we can accomplish this year.”

Council didn’t like that approach – Ward 1 representative Pat Casey said he’d prefer to do it all at once, believing the township has grounds for a full exemption.

“Between toxic mold, [risk of] fire, animals getting into it – the safety hazards go on and on,” Casey said. “I don’t want to tear down the main lodge and then still have that eyesore lurking behind it.”

Korpela said that runs the risk of MECP saying no – and the project being paused for a further four months, until migrated bats return, and another at-risk species study can be completed.

Cole said preliminary quotes for the remaining demolition and removal of all debris was around $800,000.

Dysart CAO Tamara Wilbee said the township will have to be cautious about how much it spends at the site – attempts will first be made to recoup funds from Aurora Group, but failing that they’ll have to be made whole through selling the property. How much is still owed on the property is not known.

Targeting substance abuse and mental health

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Point in Time, in partnership with the Canadian Mental Health Association Haliburton, Kawartha, Pine Ridge, and several organizations representing the Haliburton County Connections Committee, have announced the launch of a two-year project.

‘Coming Full Circle: Training, Mentorship and Employment Supports for People with Lived Experience in Haliburton County ’ will begin Jan. 1.

Canada’s Substance Use and Addictions Program (SUAP) has given the partners just under $800,000 for the project.

It aims to build a network of people with lived and living experience of substance use and mental health challenges who are trained, equipped and supported to become peer support workers. These workers will have opportunities to build their own professional and leadership capacity to contribute to health and social system improvements across Haliburton County.

Marg Cox, executive director for Point in Time, said they are grateful to have the “exceptional” opportunity for training, education and employment supports for people with lived experience, as well as new community spaces and educational initiatives for community leaders.

“We are aware that the pandemic, economics and stress levels have contributed to substance use and we are thrilled to have an opportunity to co-develop supports with people with living and lived experience.”

CMHA HKPR will play a primary role in the operations of the project. Other partners include: Haliburton Kawartha Lakes Pine Ridge district health unit, the County of Haliburton Community Safety and WellBeing, Community Living Trent Highlands, Kawartha Lakes Housing Corporation, John Howard Society of Kawartha Lakes and Haliburton, PARN – Your Community AIDS Resource Network, and Haliburton Highlands Health Services.

Kerri Kightley, director of programs and services at CMHA HKPR, said they know people who have experienced challenges related to mental health and substance use have unique expertise in navigating systems and services that support their own recovery.

“This project aims to match that expertise with people who are struggling or who may be hesitant to reach out for help, and work to connect them with services to support their health and recovery. CMHA HKPR is thrilled to be working with Point in Time and our partners in Haliburton County to launch this important work.”

Project planners will be looking for people with lived and living experience to consult with as well as explore new space opportunities. If you would like to get involved in this project, phone or text 705-761-5499.

Turning up the heat for Places for People

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Places for People has launched a seasonal fundraising campaign – birthed when they found out they have to replace an “ancient” oil furnace in one of their properties.

Spokesperson, Sherry Lawr, said starting at the beginning of December, people have been purchasing a ‘degree’ as part of ‘Turn Up the Heat for P4P’.

Lawr said they maintain their properties in the most economical way possible, giving tenants a safe and secure home with the most effective appliances they can provide.

The unexpected cost of the new furnace is $8,450.

“Add that new purchase to the cost to keep the heat and lights on in our units last year and the bill comes to nearly $40,000,” Lawr said.

“While our tenants pay rent that incorporates some of those costs, there is still a deficit at the end of the day. We need your help to ensure we can continue to operate and everyone stays warm this winter and beyond.”

Last year, through the generosity of Haliburton County residents, P4P was able to replace windows in one of its properties. “Together, we raised $13,000, which went a long way to helping that project become a reality.”

Lawr said the goal for this holiday season is to surpass that total and raise $15,000 by Dec. 31.

For $200, people can buy a full degree, or purchase a portion of a degree for less.

“Our aim is to ‘Turn Up the Heat’ to 72 Fahrenheit (room temperature). Places For People now owns and operates 20 affordable units throughout Haliburton County without the support of government grants. Maintaining those properties and supporting our tenants is a daunting task but one we are proud to take on,” Lawr said.

They encourage the public to follow their Facebook and Instagram pages throughout December to track the campaign’s progress. The public can purchase degrees through Canada Helps by going to placesforpeople.ca.

St. George’s the gift that keeps on giving

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Louise Sisson is always a welcome guest at the Youth Wellness Hub in Haliburton at this time of the year.

The St. George’s Anglican Church parishioner stopped by the Dysart Avenue facility Dec. 9 to deliver 50 handmade satchels, filled with gift cards and other goodies, to be given out to youth over the holidays.

It’s the eighth year for the effort, which Sisson said is all about giving back to the community.

“It started when Rev. Anne Moore was here, she brought it to our attention, but we didn’t start until Rev. Ken McClure was here. His wife, Becca, worked at the youth hub and so she would tell Ken about the need. And Ken loved a good story – he took this story of the ‘St. Nick’s Satchel’ and ran with it. Here we are years later still making it happen.”

Sisson said there’re about 14 women from the church who work on the satchels from the end of October to early December. They always use bright, festive colours and jam the bags full of fruit, chocolate and small keepsakes, as well as three $25 gift cards to businesses in the County.

All costs are covered by the church congregation, Sisson said, with collections running through November.

New this year, the Haliburton Highlands Quilt Guild contributed small gifts to each satchel pack – Sisson said she wanted to see other organizations and businesses get involved too.

“A lot of people are struggling now. There’s lots of troubled families in our community – there’s a real need and we try to be there when we can. We don’t do a whole lot anymore, like the pancake supper we had to stop, but this is one way we’re able to give back,” Sisson said.

She noted churchgoers also assist the hub in providing transportation for youth to and from the centre, while contributing financially to other initiatives throughout the year.

“We all have grandchildren, so we don’t want to see anyone go without,” she said.

Mary Sisson, manager at the youth hub, said the satchels are a welcome donation at this time of the year as older kids are often overlooked.

“We usually see a lot of toy donations over the holidays, but it’s harder with teenagers because they don’t necessarily want toys… it’s harder making sure they get something they like,” Mary said.

The satchels tend to fly out the door like hotcakes, Mary said, with all 50 usually accounted for. Sometimes, if there are spares, Mary will set gift cards aside for those in need in the new year. She’s also given to students at the adult and alternate education centre.

“We love the look of pleasant surprise and gratitude that spreads across young people’s faces when they receive these satchels… they’re always really thankful that people would think of them and go out of their way to do something nice for them. Especially so for youth that may not have close family,” Mary said.

Familiar face back between the pipes

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TRENTON, ON - DECEMBER 9: Tyler Hodges #29 of the Haliburton County Huskies during the second period at the Duncan McDonald Memorial Gardens on December 9, 2022 in Ontario, Canada (Photo by Amy Deroche / OJHL Images)

A familiar face is back in the Haliburton County Huskies family as goalie Tyler Hodges returned for a pair of weekend road games.

The 6-foot-2-inch left-handed goalie played with the team in the 2022-23 season, recording 13 wins and five losses. His goals against average was 2.00 and save percentage 0.931.

Hodges spent the 2023-2024 season and the start of the 2024-2025 season in the British Columbia Hockey League.

Head coach and general manager Ryan Ramsay said, “it was good timing. We needed a goalie. He’s a great goalie who has developed a lot the past couple of years. He’s got a scholarship to play NCAA Division 1 at Dartmouth [next year], so this is a massive deal for us to bring in a legit number one.”

The Huskies had traded Corbin Votary to the Maritime Junior Hockey League, leaving them with rookie Carter Nadon. They had brought up a 17-year-old affiliate player the Nov. 30-Dec. 1 weekend, but were looking for a starter.

Ramsay added the Huskies know what they are getting with Hodges so, “it’s nice to get that familiar face and knowledge of what he can do.”

Ramsay said Declan Bowmaster is also back, reacquired from the Collingwood Blues.

The blue and white split a pair of weekend road games – in which the back stopper only allowed three goals against.

Huskies 1 Dukes 2

On Dec. 8, the Huskies dropped a 2-1 decision to the Wellington Dukes on the road.

The home team began the scoring, with Cory Jewitt firing one in at 5:23 of the first period.

The tight contest did not see its second goal until, with just three seconds remaining in the second frame, Sacha Trudel scored to put the Dukes up 2-0 heading to the third.

In the final frame, the Huskies Nathan Poole fired in his 14th of the season, at 17:09, from Alex Bradshaw, with his 17th dish, and Carson Littlejohn, his 22nd.

The Huskies had 31 shots while Hodges turned aside 13 of just 15 shots.

Ramsay said they outplayed Wellington for much of the game. “Our powerplay had really good looks but we just couldn’t score. That’s something we’ll have to address this week and try to maybe tweak some things here and there.”

Huskies 4 Buzzers 1

On Dec. 6, the Huskies handled the St. Michael’s Buzzers 4-1.

Poole opened the scoring for the visitors, with his 13th of the year, unassisted.

St. Mike’s tied it up early in the second on a goal by Hudson Cumming.

But the Huskies answered less than a minute later, as Noah Lodoen punched his third, from Adam Smeeton and Bradshaw.

At 16:40 of the second frame, Vincent Gazquez recorded his fourth tally of the season, assisted by Isaac Larmand to make it 3-1 Huskies headed to the third.

The lone third period marker was Tyson Rismond’s first, from Bradshaw, at 3:32.

Hodges stopped 23 of the 24 shots fired at him.

Ramsay said, “he played great. He made some big saves to not give the momentum to them. We’re happy with his performance this weekend.”

The team is fourth in the competitive East Conference with a record of 21 wins and nine losses, good for 42 points. They are just three behind the Toronto Jr. Canadiens and Dukes, while the Trenton Golden Hawks are starting to separate themselves from the competition.

Ramsay said forward Ty Petrou remains week-to-week. “He might play this weekend, but we’re not sure.”

Next up:

The Pickering Panthers at S.G. Nesbitt Memorial Arena. Puck drop is 4 p.m.

Democracy in trouble

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I had to chuckle at the notices for the warden election this week in Haliburton County.

Going into Tuesday afternoon’s special council meeting, both candidates, and everyone else at the table, knew who the new warden would be.

It had been determined long before the Dec. 10 “election.” The ‘old guard’ was slated to back Highlands East mayor Dave Burton as he was one of their own; someone they could count on not to rock the boat, and someone they could control.

The same could not be said for Minden Hills mayor Bob Carter. Though into his second term as a municipal councillor, he is still regarded as a newby or outsider by the likes of former warden Liz Danielsen, Dysart et al mayor Murray Fearrey and deputy mayor Walt McKechnie, as well as Burton’s deputy, Cec Ryall. With Burton’s vote, that was enough to cement the deal.

Of course, the vote is done in private but we would guess it was 5-3. 

For the past six years, the position has been held by Danielsen. Carter ran against her in 2023. We’re told Burton wanted the seat. I suspect a deal was done so Burton would support Danielsen last year, in exchange for her supporting him this time around. It means Carter has been shuffled to the backbenches again. He must be getting frustrated.

I have nothing against Burton. He has political experience. However, I have believed for some time now that new blood is needed in local municipal politics. 

The Association of Municipalities of Ontario (AMO) recently completed its ‘Healthy Democracy Project’. Minden Hills Coun. Pam Sayne made a presentation to her council about it. It would be great to see County councillors read the AMO work as well.

Launched two years ago, it was designed to attract more diverse candidates to municipal office and increase voter turnout.

As Sayne pointed out, fewer people are voting and engaging in the local democratic decision-making process. Fewer people are running for municipal office and acclamations are on the rise. As such, Ontario’s municipal councils are not representative of the diverse populations they serve. 

At the same time, I can understand why some people choose not to run since Ontario’s municipally-elected officials are increasingly dealing with hostility. The social media hits are also fast and furious.

‘The Healthy Democracy Project’ builds on AMO’s ‘We All Win campaign’ and is designed to: attract more diverse candidates to municipal office; support elected officials to be equity-informed leaders; promote more respect for people engaged in the democratic processes; encourage greater participation in local democracy and an increase in voter turnout; promote greater civic engagement and greater awareness of the role of municipal government.

Again, I’m not knocking those sitting around the County council table. Some ran because no one else was prepared to. We need to make running more financially attractive to potential candidates by upping salaries. This could be done at the last council meetings of this term. But money is just one carrot. Candidates should want to serve the community. We need people with energy and vitality to help lead us going forward into the future.